The University of Cincinnati football team is in the middle of the most successful stretch in program history, and on Sunday, UC head coach Luke Fickell and the Bearcats soared even higher into rarefied air.
Cincinnati (6-0, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) advanced one spot to No. 2 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll after routing AAC rival UCF 56-21 Saturday at Nippert Stadium.
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The No. 2 AP ranking is the highest for the Bearcats in the history of the poll. The AP began its college football poll on Oct. 19, 1936.
Cincinnati, which is 37-6 over the last four seasons, also climbed one spot to No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll also released Sunday.
"This is a far cry from where we were five years ago," Fickell said following Saturday's win.
The lopsided victory, the third straight for UC against the Knights, was yet another indicator of the growth of the Cincinnati program.
Fickell's Bearcats lost to UCF 51-23 during the 2017 season, Fickell's first at UC. On Saturday, they flipped the score on the Knights, scoring 50-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time in program history.
Cincinnati's first season of football was in 1885.
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"I think there's only maybe 10 or 12 of us that are here now that were on that team (in 2017)," UC senior quarterback Desmond Ridder said. "We made it a point this week to make sure that the young guys knew that just because we beat them last year and we beat them the year before that, this isn't just an easy game. We have history with them.
"Coming out here, we had a lot of the guys from that team back here today and they were at the hotel last night. We were just like, 'Hey, this one low key is for you guys too.'"
Ridder threw for 140 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-23 passing, but it was running back Jerome Ford who carried the majority of the offensive load.
Ford rushed for 189 yards and four touchdowns (both career-highs), becoming the first Cincinnati running back to rush for over 185 yards in a single game since Mike Boone in 2014 and first with four rushing scores in a game since Isaiah Pead in 2010.
"I think my O-line did a great job today," Ford said. "I think that was the highlight of the day. I don't think they get enough credit. It wasn't just me."
More:Luke Fickell looks to get Cincinnati Bearcats running back Jerome Ford more involved
Defensively, the "Blackcats" forced three turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Ty Van Fossen (on a UCF muffed punt) and interceptions by linebacker Deshawn Pace and cornerback Coby Bryant.
Bryant jumped a hitch route by UCF tight end Jake Hescock and returned his pick 76 yards for the first touchdown of his five-year career.
"I knew once they motioned the tight end out to No. 1 and I was off, I knew he was going to try to take the free access," Bryant said. "I just trusted my instincts and made the play."
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The Bearcats look to stay unbeaten and continue their historic stretch Oct. 23 at Navy (1-5, 1-3). Kickoff is scheduled for noon on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.
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